Exercising device



Aug. 19, 1941. c. W. SENN 2,252,868

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1959 s Sheets-Shea; 1

INVENTOR.

BY I cZar/ es7%%nn I Aug. 19, 1941. Q w SENN 2,252,868

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Czar/es)? enn/ Patented Aug. 19, 1941 2,252,863 EXERCISING DEVICECharles W. Senn, Wildwood, N. .L, assignor of three-eighths to JohnGruninger, 2nd., Wildwood, N. J.

Application necember 11, 1939, Serial No. 308,526

9 Claims.

Thi invention relates to exercising devices, having for its principalobject the provision of a novel machine or device for exercising anddeveloping the muscles of the human body, improving the health, and ingeneral invigorating the muscular and nervous system of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel exercising devicewhich is adapted to be conveniently secured to the wall, flooror ceilingof a room, and which may be adjusted to the requirements of users, youngor old, and of diiferentstages of physical development.

A further object is to provide an exercising device of the kindindicated with novel, adjustable, friction-applying means for graduatingthe force requisite for manipulating the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel exercisingdevice of a design and construction suitable for gymnasiums, health andphysical culture institutions, and wherever the development of a strongand rugged physique is a desideratum.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings two forms thereof which are at present preferred'by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactoryand reliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized, and that the invention is not limitedto theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to, the inventionconsists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations whichwill be described in connection with the accompanying drawings whereiniFigure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the inventionwith a portion of the operating handles broken away, and showing thedevice attached to means which permits its adjustment to the desiredheight or position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the friction shoes or membersremoved from the assembly;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the member shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device, partly in section, with partsbroken away for clearer illustration, and showing the apparatusadjustably connected to a suitable support;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational detail view, showing one of thecoacting friction members and a portion of the socket which receives oneof the operating handles;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational, detail view of thecentrally-located, friction-adjusting drum;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the member shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan View, similar to Figure 1, depicting a modified form ofthe invention; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, with partsbroken, as taken on the line and as viewed in the direction of thearrows 99 of Fig. 8; and showing the modified form of the inventionadjustably connected to a suitable support.

The device described hereinafter and illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, is designed and adapted to bring into play themajority of the principal muscles of the body and par ticularly thosemuscles which ordinarily are not called into action, this desideratumbeing achieved by the wide range of movements permitted by the apparatusand the various heights at which these movements can be performed.Furthermore, since the force or energy required to operate the devicecan he graduated from the pressure of a few ounces to a force equal toor greater than any which could be applied by the strongest man, it willbe appreciated that the apparatus lends itself to the physicaldevelopment of persons of all ages and of both sexes.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the several views of the preferred formof the invention letter A-designates an exercising device embodying theinvention.

The exercising device comprises a ring lil composed of wood, metal orother suitable material, the outer edge or periphery of which isprovided with an annular groove I I accommodating a pair ofsubstantially similar friction shoes [2, l3, as hereinafter describedmore fully. The annular groove or the friction shoes may have, ifdesired, suitable friction or brake lining (not shown) secured thereto.

The annular member or ring H] has fastened to one of its lateral faces,in any suitable manner, a plate or strap M which is bent at its centreto provide a depressed portion, as at l5, through which a spring pressedplunger or pin lfiis protruded. The pin I B is adapted to be selectivelyinserted in any one of a series of pockets l1 arranged radially and inspaced relation in the circular periphery of a friction-adjusting drumor member 11.

The plate [4 of the device or assembly A is I8, I9 diverging from andintegrally formed with a friction shoe 2| provided withoppositely-directed projections 22, 23. The friction shoe 2|, which isformed of metal or other suitable material, is normally secured inadjusted position against the face of a support or retainer member 24 bymeans of a set-screw 25 (Fig. 4).

The opposite sides of the support 24 are suitablybent and folded, as at26, to provide longitudinally-extending guiding recesses or slideways21, 28 that slidably accommodate the projections 22 23 of the shoe 2|,the bottom of which .is juxtaposed against the central portion of thesaid support 24. The support or retainer member 24 is fastened to a wall29 or any other suitable support by screws 3|. As best shown in Fig. 4,it

will be apparent that by loosening the set-screw I 25, the shoe 2! andthe entire assembly or device A secured thereto may be slidlongitudinally of the support 24 and in a vertical plane, and thensubstantially wedge-shape in cross-section, as at 32 (Fig. 4) andarcuately curved, as at 33 (Figs. 1 and 3) in order to smoothly fit intothe V- shaped, annular groove ll of the ring l0. Each of the'shoes l2,I3, is formed with an integral offset 34". of a cylindrical member 34which has a threaded bore or pocket 35 adapted to receive one of theadjacent threaded stems 36 or 31 that are formed integrally with andproject from each of the concave opposite faces 38, 39, respectively ofthe friction-adjusting drum I? referredto above.

By inspection of Fig. 6, it will be seen that a'portion of the stem 36is provided with a lefthand thread while a portion of the stem 31 has aright-hand thread, these threaded portions serving, as described morefully in ensuing paragraphs, to simultaneously move thediametricallyoppositeshoes l2, l3 towards or away from the ring l3 inorder to increase or decrease the fric tion and/or the force required tooperate same.

As best shown in Fig. 4, it will be observed that each stem 35 or 3'!has a smooth, unthreaded portion 35' which isfreely rotatable in a passagewayprovided in the enlarged head or disc 46 of a friction member 4|formed with an integral radially-projecting socket 42, the said socketaccommodating an operating handle 42' adapted to be threadedly engagedtherein.

, Each of the concave faces 38, 39 of the friction drum I1 is coactinglyengaged by a convex surface 43 formed on the face of each friction head40 which is further provided with an enlarged pocket 44 communicatingwith the passageway 43', the pocket 44, as best shown in Fig. 4, beingadapted to rotatably receive the cylindrical member or portion 34 ofeach shoe |2 or l3.

, The function and mode of operation of the exercising device A has beenin large measure indicated above, but may be summarized as follows: KAssuming the retainer member or support 24, which may extend from thefloor to the ceiling, if desiredyto be secured to a suitable support orwall 29, as indicated generally in Fig. 4, the

operator, preparatory to using the apparatus,

will initially raise or lower the assembly A to the height desired byloosening the set-screw 25. thus permitting the slidable adjustment ofthe shoe 2| and attached parts in the vertical recesses or slideways 21,28. Ihe set-screw 25 is then tightened and the assembly Aaccordinglyflxed in position for manipulation. The friction drum I! isnow temporarily released by withdrawal of the pin It from the adjacentpocket I? and turned to obtain the desired degree of friction bothbetween the coasting surfaces of the shoes l2, 3 and the V-shaped grooveII in the ring l3, and between the concavo-convex juxtaposed surfaces ofthe friction drum l1 and the adjacent friction heads 4|), it beingobserved that rotation of the said drum and its oppositelydirected stemsor studs 36, 31 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the left inFig. 1, will simultaneously cause the arcuate shoes l2, IE to movetowards each other, thus increasing their friction against the ring Hi.This inward movement last described, will, at the same time, cause theinner ends of the cylindrical members or portions 34 to press againstthe bottoms of the pockets 44, thereby causing the friction heads 43 tosimultaneously move into closer contact with the juxtaposed concavefaces 38, 39 of the friction drum H. The pin I6 is then returned to thenearest pocket I'l', thereby locking the drum l1 against rotation andmaking the apparatus ready for use. f

While actually using the apparatus, it is to be noted that the twomanipulating handles ,42, which are grasped by the operators hands, maybe independently turned about the axis of the friction drum H, the hubportion or friction head 43 meanwhile turning on the outer periphery ofthe cylindrical member 34; In addition to this, the friction shoes l2,l3 attached to the stems of the friction drum and the associated partsof the latter, may be bodily revolved about the normally fixed ring Hiand. about anaxis coincident with the axis of the pin l5, the stem ofwhich latter remains in the adjacent pocket of the now stationary drum.and in a plane normal thereto. 7

It will therefore be evident that the manipulating handles may be swungin two different planes, each normal to the other, and that, if desired,exercising movements made in connection with the device maysimultaneously combine movements in both of said planes, thereby givingthe widest latitude in bringing into play the various muscles of thebody. The individual operating the apparatus will, of course, regulatethe same to suit his own taste and requirements, and. perform suchmovements as, it is felt, will develop and/or invigorate the desiredmuscles and organs of the body.

In Figures 8 and 9, a modified form of exercising device embodying theinvention is de-- of a pair of diametrically opposite and similarfriction shoes 54, 55. The ring-engaging portion of each of the similarfriction shoes 54, 55 is of an arcuate configuration, as at 55, in orderto smoothly fit against and accommodate the rib.

52 of the ring 5|. I

The shoes 54, 55 .are formed as an integral part of similar cylindricalmembers 51, 58 respectively, each having an outer annular flange 51, 58against which the outer ends ofhubs or sleeves 58; 6 areada pted to-beengaged. The members 5158 are each provided with a threaded pocket 61which receives areduced, outer threaded" portion, formed on each of" apair of studs 63, 64 projecting from opposite sides of afriction-adjusting drum 65; each of these differentially-threaded studsalso having an' enlarged threaded portion, as at 66, which has lessthreads per unit of lengththan the threaded portion 62. The differentialthreads on the stud 63, it will be observed, are both left-hand threads,while the differenti'althreads on the stud 6.4 are both right-handthreads, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

The hubs 59, 60, which rotate freely on the peripheries of the members51, 58, are formed with radially-projecting, tubular sockets 61, 68adapted to receive operating handles (not shown), and are furtherprovided with unitary friction heads or discs H, 12' having outer,concave faces, as at 13, normally infrictional engagement with convexfaces 14 of, coacting friction discs 15, 18, integrally formed on hubsor sleeves I1, 18 mounted on the enlarged left-hand and right-handthreaded portions of the oppos'itely-directed studs 613, 64. Thelast-mentioned hubs 11, 18 may be partly accommodated in shallow pockets19, 8| formed in the opposite sides of the friction-adjusting drum 65and from which the doubly-threaded studs 63, 64 protrude.

The outer edges of the friction discs 15, 16 may have notchedprojections 15, Hi in which a locking bar 82 is normally engaged with aview to preventing rotation of the said friction discs 15, 18 while thefriction-adjusting drum B is being turned to regulate the degree offriction desired and the consequent pressure or force required tooperate the handles 69. The locking bar 82 is fastened to aspring-biased stud 83 protruded through aligned holes in a bracketmember, designatedgenerally at 84 and secured to a pair of arms 85, 86which are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to opposite sides of thering 5|. A friction shoe 81, similar to the friction shoe 2| of thefirst form of the invention, is secured to the bracket 84 and is adaptedto be slidably and adjustably confined in a support or retainer member88 suitably anchored to an adjacent wall or other supporting structure,

The function and operation of the modified form of the invention B issubstantially similar to the other form of the invention. In the instantform B, however, it will be noted that when the friction-adjusting drum65 is turned, the left and right hand double threads on thedifferentially threaded studs 63, 64 will simultaneously move both thefriction discs 15, 16 and also the cylindrical members 51, 58 having thefriction shoes 54, 55. The coarser threads 68 of the enlargedportions ofthe studs 63, 64, it will be obvious, will advance the friction discs15, 16 at a rate somewhat faster than the movement communicated to themembers 51, 58 and their attached friction shoes 54, 55 which latter, asnoted above, are operatively engaged with the friction rib 53 of thering 5|.

The net result of the above procedure will be an increase of friction ofthe outer shoes 54, 55 against the rib 53 and a slightly greaterincrease of friction of the friction discs 15, 16 against the coactingfriction discs "H, 12. By withdrawing the locking bar 82 from thenotched projections 16 of the discs 15, 16, the latter may turn with thefriction-adjusting drum 65, thereby permitting the independent movementand/or adjustment ofthe outer shoe-carrying members 51, 58 relative tothe friction rib 53, and

at the same time increasing or decreasing the pressure or frictionbetween the adjacent concavo-convex faces 73, 14 of their respectivediscs, independently of the adjustment afforded by the enlarged threadedportions 65,

It is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being had to the accompanying claims rather than to theforegoing description to indicate the scope of the invention; and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature andcombination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosed,forms a part of the invention included in this application.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An exercising device of the character described, comprising, incombination, a support, an assembly connected. to the support andcapable of angular and translational movement relatively thereto,friction-applying instrumentalities connected to the assembly and to thesupport, and a pair of manually and independently operable meansconnected to the instrumentalities, said manually operable means beingangularly and simultaneously movable in opposite directions about aplurality of different axes.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,means connected to the support and having a friction surface, othermeans frictionally engaged with the friction surface and rotatable aboutits axis, a pair of manually operable instrumentalities independentlymovable about portions of said last mentioned means, and a frictionregulating member having a threaded connection with the said othermeans, i

said member having friction surfaces engaged by the instrumentalities.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,means connected to the support and having a friction surface, a secondmeans frictionally engaged with the friction surface and rotatable aboutits axis, a pair of manually operable instrumentalities turnablyconnected to the said second means and adapted to rotate them in a planenormal to the plane of rotation of the instrumentalities, and a frictionregulating member threadedly connected to the second means and havingoppositely directed friction surfaces, said friction surfaces being engaged by coacting friction surfaces arranged on the manually operableinstrumentalities.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,means connected to the support and having a friction surface, a secondmeans frictionally engaged with the friction surface and rotatable aboutthe axis thereof, a pair of manually operable instrumentalities turnablyconnected to the said second means and adapted to rotate them in a planenormal to the plane of rotation of the instrumentalities, a frictionregulating member having oppositely directed friction surfaces, each ofsaid surfaces being engaged by a coacting friction surface arranged oneither of the instrumentalities, and a threaded extension projectingaxially from each of the friction surfaces of the regulating member,said extensions being operatively engaged with portions of the saidsecond means.

5. In'a device of the character described, the combination of a support,means connected to the support and having a friction surface, a secondmeans frictionally engaged with the said friction surface and rotatableabout'the axis thereof, a pair of manually operable instrumentalitiesindependently swingable in the same direction and in opposite directionsabout the longitudinal axis of the said second means but adapted torevolve with them as a unit about their axis of rotation when desired, afriction regulating member operatively connected to the second means andhaving friction surfaces engaged by coacting friction surfaces on themanually operable instrumentalities; whereby when the regulating memberis turned, a simultaneous adjustmentof the instrumentalities and of thesecond means is obtained.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,an assembly connected to the support andcapable of angular andtranslational movement relative thereto, a pair of manually operableinstrumentalities independently movable in the same direction and inopposite directions about a plurality of different axes and revolvableas a unit about the axis of rotation of the assembly, friction-applyingmeans revolvable with the instrumentalities about the said axis ofrotation, other friction-applying means forming an integral part of eachof said instrumentalities, and a friction regulating member arrangedbetween the instrumentalities and adapted to simultaneously adjust allof the friction-applying means.

'7. In a device of the character described, the combination of asupport, an annular friction surface adjustably connected to thesupport, friction-applyingmeans revolvably arranged on the annularfriction surface, a pair of manually operable instrumentalitiesindependently rotatable on portions of the friction-applying means, anda friction-regulating member arranged between the pair ofinstrumentalities and having friction surfaces engaged with coactingfriction-applying surfaces on the instrumentalities, said member havinga threaded connection with the firstmentioned friction-applying means;whereby when the member is turned, a simultaneous adjustment of all thefriction-applying means is obtained.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support,an annular member connectible to the support at different heightsthereof, a friction surface arranged on the outer periphery of saidmember, a pair of frictionapplying shoes engaged with the frictionsurface, a manually operable friction-applying member rotatable oncylindrical portions of either of said shoes, a friction-regulating drumarranged between the shoes and the friction-applying members andnormally juxtaposed against said members, and means connected to thesupport for locking the drum in desired position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supportan annular member connectible to, the support at various heightsthereof, a friction surface arranged on the inner periphery of theannular membena pair of friction-applying shoes engaged with thefriction surface, a pair of friction discs rotatable on innercylindrical portions of the shoes, an operating handle integrally formedwith each of said discs, a second pair of friction discs coactinglyengaged with the first-mentioned friction discs, and afriction-regulating member arranged between the last-mentioned pair ofdiscs and hav-. ing a differentially threaded spindle projecting axiallyfrom each of its opposite sides, said spindle being threadedly engagedwith the cylindrical portions of the shoes and with the second pair offriction discs. 7

CHARLES W. SENN.

